AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE ON THE UTILIZATION OF THE GODAVARI WATERS AND RESOURCES

The RoFR act recognizes the dwelling site, religious places, burial grounds, village council sites along with places of MFP, water resources, biodiverisity etc and also PVT tenures. As the implementation boils down to title deeds for house sites and lands under cultivation, SAKTI engaged the Chenchu youth to document their traditional knowledge in their idiom and dialect, in encouraging them to assert as inborn foresters, capable of managing these resources as envisaged in the Act.

"Since SAKTI activities are mostly issue based and covering a large area, here we concentrate on the forest-related programmes of SAKTI for the present study."

Articles

From a Ravindra Seshu

The Hindu. Oct 4, 1997.

BHADRACHALAM, Oct 3:

The non-Girijan landlords of Khammam district worked out a comprehensive strategy to thwart the Girijjans and to pre-empt any move made by the Search for Action and Knowledge for Tribal Initiatives (SAKTI.

At a really of non-Girijan ryots of the agency area at Bhadrachalam on September 20, they said they would forge alliances with all like minded groups along non-party lines

A state-level committee to protect the rights of non-Girijan farmers was formed under the leadership of Pakala Pati Venkateswara Rao, a landlord from Pinapaka mandal.

The Organizers decided to extend the movement to all agency areas. In support of their main demand to waive the 1/1970 regulation act, they decided to intensify lobbying among all major political parties. Including the ruling Telugu Desam (TD).

They had already mustered enough support from the TD, Communist party of India (CPI) and the Congress for the abolition of 1/1970 regulation.

As per the 1/1970 regulation act, non-Girijans are prohibited from purchasing land or immovable property from Girijans. Even patta lands allocated to non-tribal before 1970 can be transferred or sold only to Tribals.

In the agency area of Khammam district, 1,88,147 hectares of land out of the total 3,08,641 hectares of cultivated land is controlled by non-tribal farmers. After the 1/1970 regulation, farmers from coastal areas bought lands is agency areas.

Under the influence of Sakti, the Girijans of jeeelugumilli of West Godavari started their struggle for land and forced the non-Girijan landlords to retreat. The jeelugumilli struggle alerted the non-Girijan landlords of Khammam district.

The non-Girijan landlords demanded that the 1/1970 act be replaced by the 1/59 act. Under the act, non-Girijan can purchase lands another immovable property from Girijan with the permission and approval of the Government.

Rift in left parties

The CPI and CPM have taken opposite stands on the 1/1970 regulation. The CPI joined hands with the TD and the Congress and demanded that the /1970 regulation be amended.

The CPI said the problem should be solved without harming tribal interests. Eh party said the strict implementation of 1/1970 act would cause the gulf between the Girijans and non-Girijans to widen leading to social tension.

The CPM, on the other hand, demanded the implementation of the 1/1970 act in toto. Members of the CM made special efforts to spread awareness among the Tribals about the 1/1970 act.

In Bhadrachalam constituency, the party candidate Kunja Bujji won by 40,000 votes in the last assembly election. The CPM also strictly adhered to agricultural labourer's wages.

To corner the CPM on the 1/1970 act and the issue of the wages of agricultural labourers, the Td, CPI an Congress mobilize a large numbers of Tribals for the Bhadrachalam rally, to show that Tribals also favored the amendment of the 1/1970 regulation.

Resentment among Tribals

The efforts made by non-tribal landlords with help from the TD, CPI an Congress has caused great deal of anxiety among the Girijans, particularly the youth.

On September 21, Girijan youth burned effigies of Chode Ramaiah (CPI) and CPI MLA o. Abbaiah, at Bhadrahlam. The Girijan Association accused the Tribals of supporting the repeal of the 1/1970 regulation.

The Girijan Association in Bhadrachalam said Ramaiah and Abbaiah have been expelled from their caste.

Non-tribal landlords are worried over the attitude of the tribal youth.

If the Government fails to take a firm stand on the issue, the agency areas of Khammam district would be in the grip of social tensions.

W.P. No. 5515/87 M.P.No.7398/87 Date:May 1987

W.P. No. 6175/87 M.P.No.8273/87 Date:May 1987

"Managing Director Godavari plywoods ltd. Rampachodavaram E.G.Dt. be and hereby is directed not to cut any mango trees, jamun and jack trees and cutting the forests of Maredumilli mandal, E.G.Dt."

Only matured or dying trees were to be felled. Jeelugu (Caryota urens) palm, trees yielding minor forest produce like tamarind or cane brakes, creepers were not to be touched. A gap of 20 meters from a stream.) --Times of India, April 30, 1991.

The candidate has chosen a topical subject, very relevant to our thinking on culture, cognition and language. He has red widely and is familiar with the literature that matters. His linguistic and anthropological reasoning is sound. His language is clear and simple.

...evidence of the investigator's ability as a linguist by special training and as a linguistic anthropologist by self - cultivated interest.

The only information the government or media always compile carefully is on Naxalite encounters, never the violations of the instruments of rule of law such as minimum wages, fifth schedule, mismanagement of forests, equity in the distribution of welfare benefits, displacement, fragmentation of Socio-economic entities etc.

INDIRA SAGAR (POLAVARAM) CENTRAL EMPOWERED COMMITTEE ORDER

if the R & R is found to be lagging with reference to the fixed bench marks, the construction should accordingly be deferred / stopped;